§ Mr. Allen McKayasked the Secretary of State for Defence how many Polynesian men, women and children were transported to Christmas Island by his Department for H bomb tests; what was the work they were doing; what remuneration or reward they received for location to Christmas Island; whether and where they were relocated after test completion; and what steps are being undertaken to monitor any health problems of the Polynesian persons who were on Christmas Island.
§ Mr. ButlerNo Polynesian civilians were sent to Christmas Island by the United Kingdom authorities as part of the United Kingdom nuclear weapon test programme. However, about 200 Gilbert and Ellice Islanders were working on the island, which had no indigenous population at the time, as contract labour for the harvesting of copra. There was never any question of these civilians being exposed to radiation and their health would not have been impaired as a result of the tests. A small number of Fijian military personnel were present on Christmas Island during the test programme, but they did not receive any radiation exposure.